Death Comes for the Archbishop
Ratings31
Average rating4.1
Willa Cather's Death Comes for the Archbishop is a beautiful narrative on the beginnings of westward expansion in U.S. It follows the journey and friendship of Bishop Jean Marie Latour and his vicar, Father Joseph Vaillant as they organize a new Catholic diocese in New Mexico. Though the novel lacks a strong plot line, Cather's ability to effortlessly immerse the reader into a new world with her striking imagery, practical authenticity, and brilliant storytelling, makes this book well worth the read.
Favorite passage:
[Book I - The Vicar Apostalic - Chapter IV]
“‘Where there is great love there are always miracles,' he said at length. ‘One might almost say that an apparition is human vision corrected by divine love. I do not see you as you really are, Joseph; I see you through my affection for you. The Miracles of the Church seem to me to rest not so much upon faces or voices or healing power coming suddenly near to us from afar off, but upon our perceptions being made finer, so that for a moment our eyes can see and our ears can hear what is there about us always.'”
Who knew I'd be traveling in a book the same places I was traveling in real life when I picked up Death Comes for the Archbishop? It was the perfect book to read while I was in New Mexico, the perfect book for this new Catholic.
The plot centers on two French priests who come to work in New Mexico in the 1850's, but the real story is the story of the peoples of New Mexico. Willa Cather finds a way to include the stories of the appearance of Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico and the murder of a cruel Spanish priest as well as speculations about God and religion and the Native Americans of New Mexico in this wonderful little book.
A solid, historical read about New Mexico in the latter half of the 19th century. Each chapter is like a piece of art to lose yourself in, a landscape to think about. It is based on the true story of Bishop Lame who came to New Mexico and revitalized the Catholic religion there. The author describes his travels throughout New Mexico as he visits several pueblos and Mexican towns. Cather's landscape descriptions are simply breathtaking (of course, I love the Southwest, perhaps that helps me enjoy them all the more). The story gives character and meaning to what you might read in a dry history book, and was deeply touching. A great read, especially for Southwest history buffs.